Period One 9:00 – 10:00
| A. Mind-bending Contras and More |
Cis Hinkle (A)
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For those who want a little more spice in their dancing experience, we’ll explore some tricky moves, unexpected twists, and challenging timing in a variety of dance formations. |
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| B. Morris Dance for All |
Steve Howe (U) |
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Using the particular take on the Bampton tradition of The Marlboro Morris Men, we will work on dancing together – keeping the flashes of the hankies uniform and moving as lines and sets. The stepping is not overly vigorous, but we will drill it to unify our timing and movements so that, in a figure, we can really experience the unity that makes the performance of a dance worth watching. All are welcome. |
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| C. Beginning Waltzing for Country Dancers |
Tim Lamm and Paula Harrison (B) |
| Most Country Dance evenings include a free waltz or two. This class will enhance your enjoyment of waltzing, as well as that of your partners! You will learn the turning, folk-style waltz and some simple variations, skills useful also at weddings and other social dance occasions. The class will include some set dances that incorporate waltzing. Techniques of leading and following will be emphasized every day, so that you and your partner can move gracefully together on the dance floor. | |
| D. Recorder for the Next Level |
Wayne Hankin (I/A)
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| Some old music, some new, some old friends and a great opportunity to make new ensemble partners. We’ll also work on technique. This class is open to players who can play beyond soprano and alto. Some experience in tenor and bass recorders welcome. | |
| E. Group Singing for All |
Emily Miller (U) |
| We’ll learn rounds, traditional music from West Virginia, English carols, gospel songs and other fun music. This class will focus on the joy of singing together, as there is nothing quite as satisfying as voices coming together in harmony. This music is perfect for community singing, so all experience levels are welcome. | |
| F. Beginning Rapper |
David Macemon (B)
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| Fast paced and energetic, Rapper sword is loads of fun! This class is targeted at dancers who want to start dancing rapper, or only have a couple of workshops under their belt. We will look not only at figures, but also what it takes to dance well and dance as a team. Figures will be an interesting mix of traditional and new. A great time will be had by all! Hard-soled shoes work best for this dance, but anything will work. | |
| G. English Clog Int./Adv. |
Meg Ryan (I/A) |
| Come and fall in love with the hornpipe rhythm and its beautiful tunes! Meg will teach a hornpipe routine she learned from Pat Tracey, the queen of English Clog. Hornpipes have a long history on the music hall and vaudeville stages as well as in more private settings. English “clog” is often synonymous with the hornpipe style. This routine has a wide variety of beautiful steps which build interesting rhythms. Open to anyone with any kind of step experience. If you have English clogs (wooden soles) please bring them, or bring a pair of oxford style shoes with leather or smooth soles. | |
Period Two 10:15 – 11:15 |
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| A. Advanced English Country Dance |
Brad Foster (A)
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| Style, dance technique and figures for advanced dancers, with dances ranging from old favorites to challenging new material. For dancers familiar with basic English figures who can dance with a minimum of teaching and walkthroughs. | |
| B. Intermediate English Country Dance |
Kalia Kliban (I) |
| If you’re comfortable with the basics of ECD and would like to move your skill level up a notch, we’ll be drawing from almost 400 years-worth of dances to find challenges to help us refine our timing, use of floor space, the way we interact with the others in our set and our ability to be good partners and neighbors. As we move through and beyond the mechanics of “getting it right” we can also experiment with ways of expressing your own dancing style, whether that style is elegant, exuberant, solemn or goofy. For intermediate dancers. | |
| C. Beginning English Country Dance |
Mary Harrell (B)
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| In this class, the fun and sociability of the dances will be stressed, along with learning the recurring basic figures, to build a beginning repertoire. The fundamentals of the waltz will also be taught. | |
| D. Calling Contras and Squares |
Cis Hinkle (U) |
| If you’ve ever considered calling a dance, have been calling for years, or perhaps are just curious how callers think, this class will meet your needs. Cis will offer good grounding in the basics of dance calling, fine points about how to improve your skill, and plenty of “flight time” to practice in a supportive setting. | |
| E. Dance Music on the Guitar |
Owen Morrison (U)
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| Owen’s guitar class will focus on different aspects of rhythm playing that make music danceable. Accompaniment styles from many traditions will be addressed. The class will also learn to flat-pick the melody of a fiddle tune or two. Helpful technique tips for both hands will be thrown in along the way. | |
| F. Beginning Storytelling |
Eshu Bumpus (B) |
| Everyone has a story to tell! Using classic fairytales and folktales as models, participants will learn to recognize the common devices and techniques in these stories. Each participant will develop their own version of a well-known folk or fairy tale. | |
| G. Trump Familiar Basics and Some New Tricks |
Wayne Hankin (U)
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| For trump (Jew’s harp) enthusiasts or newcomers, we review the basics and introduce some new tricks. If you don’t have a trump we’ll be providing instruments in the keys of D, C, and G. Also if you have an electric toothbrush, don’t leave home without one. | |
| H. Basketry (for All One) | Janet Northern (B) |
| We will be using oak hoops to make traditional style baskets, woven with reed and other materials. A variety of colors and sizes of reed will be available to choose from so that each basket will be unique. You can keep it basic or feel free to experiment with your own ideas.($10 material fee payable at class) | |
| I. Clogging Basics | Abby Ladin (B) |
| We’ll learn the fundamental steps, how to string them together and keep the rhythms moving along. Explore the power of feet hoofing in unison. Even if you have some steps under your belt, a basics refresher is a great place to solidify your rhythmic abilities. | |
Period Three 11:30 – 12:15 |
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| Morningsong & Stories |
Patty Tarter (U)
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| This is a time for the entire CCDS community to gather together for music and fellowship. Participants are welcome to share songs or stories, or just come for the joy of singing together. | |
Period Four 1:45 – 2:45 |
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| A. Contra for All |
Kalia Kliban (U)
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| Whether you’re an experienced dancer looking for a relaxed and wide-ranging session or a brand-new dancer wondering what all the fuss is about, come and join us for this introduction to contra dance. We’ll look at the whole historic spectrum of contras, from the early days to the present, explore different formations along the way, and learn all the basics needed to have a great time on the dance floor. For all dancers. |
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| B. Kentucky Running Set |
Dave Napier (B/I)
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| All ages will enjoy this type of dancing. Dance figures taught in this class are those that were included in the book Kentucky Mountain Square Dance by Patrick E. Napier. Many of the figures have not changed since the Appalachian Mountains were first settled. | |
| C. Intermediate Waltzing for Country Dancers |
Tim Lamm and Paula Harrison (I) |
| If you already know how to do a basic turning, folk-style waltz and you want to improve your skills, this is the class for you. Paula and I will show you some secrets for achieving the smoothest, most graceful waltz possible. We will teach a number of variations: twirls, pivots, cuddles, swing moves—maybe even reverse waltzing. Musicality (fitting your dancing to the music) and techniques of leading and following will be emphasized every day. | |
| D. Recorder for New Students |
Wayne Hankin (B)
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| Now is the time to get introduced to the instrument. Learn the basics of music, how to sight read, fingerings and enjoy playing with others. Recommended recorders which employ English or Baroque fingerings. | |
| E. English Callers Workshop |
David Macemon (U) |
| This class for non-callers, who would like to give calling a try, new callers who would like to continue to hone their skills and more experienced callers who may want to pick up a few tips. We’ll talk about how calling involves more than just reading the figures. What is a teaching style that is comfortable for you. What are some communication styles (both verbal and non-verbal) that can be effective. How to teach figures, how to prompt dances. Care and feeding of musicians. During class we’ll have time for practicing, and if you choose, you can take a dance or two to call at Brad’s Open Mic / Open band session during the week. | |
| F. Intermediate Storytelling (Two hours) |
Eshu Bumpus (I/A) |
| For folks who are already telling stories, this workshop will help participants to find their own unique perspectives and voices and hone their skills. Participants are encouraged to bring a story or idea for a story to work on. This will be a great opportunity to develop a new piece. | |
| G. Ritchie Family Songs & Traditions |
Jon Pickow (U) |
| We’ll learn and sing some of the songs from the Ritchie Family of Kentucky, including some written by Jean Ritchie. We’ll also discuss the history of the songs, and how they came into the family repertoire. Songs will be interspersed with family stories and archival video from the Ritchie/Pickow collection. Each time I’ve taught this class it’s been like having some friends on the Ritchie family porch to share songs, stories and images of the past. | |
| H. Int Temari Craft ($10 material fee payable at class) |
Eric Crowden (I)
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| Ready to take temari to another level? You will learn a more complex division of the ball that will lead to even more intricate and fascinating designs. This class is suitable for people who have had the Beginning Temari class at Dance School or who have learned temari basics elsewhere | |
| I. Mummers Play |
John Mayberry (U)
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| If you’ve seen a Mummers’ Play before, you know that it’s essentially a loud performance of some nonsensical doggerel presented by a group of people in disguise. It comes to us here and now mostly from the collected versions of seasonal, community-based plays that are still done in parts of England and Ireland. What you may not know is that many communities and cultures all around the world have traditions of allowing certain kinds of excess, breaking of taboos, and doing things that are disruptive. These traditions often include disguising and saying ritualistic things. John will guide the class in finding our own way to present a brand new play to share with everyone at the end of the week. No acting experience necessary, just a willingness to play. | |
| J. English Clog for All |
Meg Ryan (U) |
| Meg will teach waltz clog steps that she loves from her extensive repertoire. Steps are built on repeated phrases of movement and range from simple and accessible to intricate and complicated. The class will create a routine together over the course of the week, and spend time considering how steps get arranged to complement and build on each other, and how the step and tune work together. If you have English clogs (wooden soles) please bring them, or bring a pair of oxford style shoes with leather or smooth soles. Beginners welcome! | |
Period Five 3:00 – 4:00 |
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| A. Longsword for All |
Steve Howe (U) |
| That Long Tall Sword dances a variation of Kirkby Malzeard that uses the dancers available, 5 or more. With that flexibility, we will include all who are interested. We will shift positions regularly in class, working on dancing instinctively with the swords and communicating through our swords with our neighbors and the whole set. The dance is not phrased. It uses a brisk walking step, with a drive familiar to English country and running set dancers. | |
| B. English Dance for All |
David Macemon (U) |
| English dance has many styles and forms. Old favorites from Playford, new compositions from friends, jigs, reels, waltzes, slip jigs, it’s almost an endless variety. In this class we’ll dance a mixture of old and new dances, while becoming more aware of how to move in the style of the dance, how to dance with/to the music (timing and transitions), and how to appropriately help your partner and others through the dance. So if you’re newer to English dance, or just want a relaxing class where we’ll do lots of fun things, come join us! | |
| C. Traditional Squares from Mid-Century to the New Millennium |
Cis Hinkle (U) |
| In the 1950’s, just before rock ‘n’ roll, square dancing swept the country. Creativity and innovation were all the rage, and new takes on the simple square dance form were invented every day. Come explore some of these fresh ideas from a bygone age, as well as contemporary spins on this traditional form. | |
| D. Intermediate/Advanced Dance Band |
Anna Patton (I/A)
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| This class is for dance musicians on all instruments to work on ensemble skills, especially emphasizing the rhythmic aspects of our playing. There are so many different ways to play rhythmically: even sweeping legatos can be rhythmic. How can we create more rhythmic variation? How can a melody player find a niche in the rhythm section and vice versa? How to approach dragging or speeding tendencies? How to deliver the most satisfying kinds of oomph for different kinds of choreography? We will work with several contrasting dance tunes and accompaniment approaches, making plenty of time for playful experimentation. | |
| E. Beginning Dance Band |
Elke Baker (B) |
| We’ll learn the basics of dance music — keeping tempo, working together, and serving the needs of the dance with the music. For all instruments. We’ll learn a few good tunes from various traditions, and learn how to make them lively and dance-y. | |
| F. Intermediate Storytelling (Two hours) |
Eshu Bumpus (I/A) |
| For folks who are already telling stories, this workshop will help participants to find their own unique perspectives and voices and hone their skills. Participants are encouraged to bring a story or idea for a story to work on. This will be a great opportunity to develop a new piece. | |
| G. Harmony Singing in the Square: Shape Note Singing for One and All |
Kent Gilbert (U)
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| With rich harmonies and complex melodic structures, Shape Note (or Sacred Harp) music is a 4-part a cappella American singing tradition with roots dating back more than 2 centuries. So-called because of the use of different shapes on the note-heads, we will learn and sing primarily from the 4-shape tradition. Anyone is welcome to join! Previous experience and the ability to read music —while helpful—is not required. | |
| H. Basketry for All (Two) |
Janet Northern (U) |
| We will be using the same materials and techniques as in the first class to create one-of-a-kind baskets. If you have taken this class before, I will encourage you to try different patterns and weaving styles than you have used in the past. Both classes can be kept very basic or you can feel free to experiment and try new things. | |
| I. C3 * Rapper |
Laurie Cumming (I/A) |
| This class will focus on learning classic and challenging combination figures Dancers are also encouraged to bring their favorite combinations to share with the others in the class. Nearing week’s end dancers will decide how to sequence these combinations to create a brand new rapper dance. Experience in rapper dancing, including stepping is necessary for this class as we’ll be moving through the figures quickly.*C3 = Classic, Challenging Combinations | |
Period Six 4:15 – 5:15 |
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| A. English Dance Open Mic/Open Band |
Brad Foster/Andrea Hoag (U) |
| For dancers, this is another time in the day to enjoy the beauty of English country dance. For callers, this is a chance to get more practice time and to receive instructive feedback on your calling from Brad Foster. For musicians, come and join the band under the guidance of Andrea Hoag. | |
| B. Bollywood for All |
Laurie Cumming (U) |
| Bollywood returns to CCDS! In our class we will focus on this style of popular South Asian dancing, beginning each session with a substantial strength and flexibility warm-up followed by a series of moves inspired by cobras, butterflies and a popular western dance move. Get ready to move those hips in new and unusual ways! | |
| C. Southern Mountain Square Dance |
Jim Morrison (U) |
| Fun. Fast. Flexible. Adjectives that apply to the square dancing of the Southern Appalachians, and the dances we will do at Christmas School 2015. Every community has a little different take on how these dances go, and we will do dances from three now extinct but once terrific locations in Tennessee and West Virginia. Flatfoot or clogging style squares will be included, so there will be basic instruction in flatfoot dancing as well. | |
| D. Duet Singing |
Emily Miller (U) |
| Learn to sing in close harmony. We’ll learn some great country songs and work on singing them the way they are meant to be sung– in small groups, knee-to-knee (one of the world’s great pleasures!). We’ll work on making up harmonies, country vocal stylings, some fundamental music theory as well as just having fun singing close harmonies. This class is recommended for singers who have some experience holding their own parts. | |
| E. Beg Temari Craft ($10 material fee payable at class) |
Eric Crowden (B) |
| Temari is an ancient Japanese handcraft of first thread-wrapping a ball and then embroidering colorful designs across the surface. You will learn to create the base, some basic stitching techniques and different patterns that can open up endless design possibilities.
($10 material fee payable at class) |
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| F. Clogging Intermediate |
Abby Ladin (I) |
| If you have solid basic footwork in tap or clogging come explore syncopation and phrasing. We will work on attack and precision to improve the overall quality of our percussive sound. | |